Cushion connection for vehicle construction



Jan. 8, 1929. 1,697,871

A. J. JANSSON CUSHION CONNECTION FOR VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION Filed May 4, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 r I i Jan. 8, 1929.

A. J. JANSSON CUSHION CONNECTION FOR VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION Filed llay 4, 1926 2 sheets-shut 2 lal i I l I l v and lig t in weight. Still another object is Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AXEL J. JANSSON, OF HILLSIDE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATTONAT; MOTOiR COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE/ CUSHION CONNECTION FOR VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed; May 4,

This invention relates to improvements in cushion connections for vehicle construction and has for its general object to provide certain features of design especially adapted to meet conditions of use encountered in some types of vehicles and particularly vehicles of light weight. A further object of the invention is to provide parts for an assembly adapted for such use which themselves shall be sim leand inexpensive in construction to improve some of the parts employed in such an assembly to facilitate their manufacture and use.

The improvements will be pointed out particularly hereinafter with reference to the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Y

Figure l is a. fragmentaryyiew partly in vertical section and partly in elevation showing the improved connection applied to the front end of the front spring of a vehicle.

Figure 2 is a similar view at the rear end of the spring shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 IS a view in transverse section through theparts shown in Figure 2 and taken on the plane indicated by the line.33 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a view in plan lof a suitable housing for the deformable column adapted to limit lateral movements thereof.

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure- 2 but showing a non-metallic element in which the various load columnsare moulded with connecting webs and improved types of seats are provided. v

. Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view through the embodiment shown in Figure 5 and taken on the plane indicated'by the line 66 ofFigure 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a view in side elevation of a type of housing'illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

Figure 8 is a scctional'view of a connection similar to that provided inFigures 5 and 6 and adapted forv application to the end of the frame of the vehicle.

As this description proceeds it will appear that the constructions illustrated herein are characterized by the rovision of a rigid clamping element for t e connection such.as a bolt swiveled at one end and adapted to conform to movements of the non-metallic connector, the work of the stud being to hold 1926. Serial No. 106,625.

the parts together while not resisting their action and the work of the nod-metallic material being to provide a wholly non-metallic union between the spring and frame while transmitting all of the load forces and yieldingly resisting excessive lateral and longitudinal movements of the spring. As far as is known no swiveling clamp member has been mounted in such relationship to a wholly non-metallic connection and support. The

underlying principle embodied in the present design will appear clearly from Figure 2' respect to the elements engaged. For instance, the upper column b has its upper face engaged with a seat 6" whose movement is limited by engagement with the head a of the bolt a.- This column seats on its lower surface directly on the frame 7. The intermediate column 0 seats within a depending cover 9, a suitable form for which appears most clearly from' Figure 4. This cover 9.

may be riveted or otherwise secured to the frame. f by rivets g. The form and dimensions of the cover with respect to the column 0 are such that lateral movements of the column incidental to side sway are kept within well defined limitsby the side walls g while the end walls g of the cover flare downwardly and outwardly and do not confine the movements of the column so much, free elongation of the spring 0' thereby being permitted. The upper end of the housing 9 snugly embraces the upper end of the column 0 thereby constituting a seat for it although the top surface of the column may rest directly against the frame .1. The lower end of the column 0 may engage a seat It provided therefor and so formed and assembled, if desired, as to extend through the slot 6 in the spring 6 and be upset on the lower face of the leaf as indicated at h. This is a detail which is believed to embody certain practical advantages although the invention in its broader phases is not limited to it. By extending the metal of the seat h through the slot and upsetting it in the mannerdescribed a seat is provided on the underside of the leaf e and on this seat may rest the upper end of the lower column cl whereby this column is held against displacement with respect to the spring. The lower end of the column d engages an independent seat d which is held against movement by the nut a threaded on the lower end of the bolt (1 which extends through all of the columns described. The form and dimensions of the opening f in the frame f and the slot e in the leaf e are such as to permit the bolt a to swing freely in all angular directions to an ,extent sufficient to conform to deformation of the columns I), 0 and d under forces to which the spring 6 and frame f may be subjected. The parts when assembled are assembled under compression, the nut a being set up to bring about the desired degree of compression. The load is carried by the column a. Rebound is resisted yieldingly by the columns b and d. The column b affords a swiveling support for the bolt a. Side sway is resisted by engagement of the column 0 with the side walls of the housing 9 as indicated in Figure 3. Elongation of the spring e is permitted with comparative freedom although the flaring end Walls g of the housing 9 are engaged by the end walls of the column 0 to check this elongation yieldingly within desired limits.

In Figure l a suitable type of connection for the front end or so-called 'pivot end of a spring isillustrafed, this type of connection, howey'er, not being the subject matter of the present improvements.

A further detail .'n connection with the seats appears from a comparisonorf the views of seat 6' shown in Figures 2 and 3. As appears from Figure 2 the seat I) has similar flanges b at its front and rear edges which hold the column 6 against displacement. In Figure 3 it appears that the seat may be turned up at its inner edge 6 so as to co operate with the vertical frame member 7 in holding the column against displacement while the outer edge 6 is turned down in general conformity to the flanges b. Further, the seat b where the bolt a passes through may be stamped outand the metal bent inward at opposite sides of the bolt as indicated at N. The same is true of the seat d for the lower column, the stamped out metal being indicated at 11 The assembly shown in Figures 5 and 6 is substantially similar in principle to that described above. The parts are so arranged, however, that the three columns of nonmetallic material B, C and D may be moulded with connecting webs gnd C, respectively, disposed, however, injplanes at 90 to each other. This construction not only facilitates manufacture but affords additional columns carries at its end a vertical metal plate E which engages the inner face of the said column. The flanges B and D? further serve to help enclose somewhat the rubber of the non-metallic connection and the housing G is formed accordingly. The relationship of parts, is, however, substantially the same as before described in that the walls of the housing may be en aged by the middle column C to limit e' ectively side sway and spring elongation. Swiveling action of the clamping bolt A is afforded as heretofore described although, if desired, the openings through the various columns may be moulded with a taper, as illustrated, to permit the bolt to assume various angular positions without directly pressing to any appreciable extent on the material. For instance, the central column C may have its bore reversely tapered so that the bolt may assume the relationship indicated in Figure 5 when the spring elongates. It will also be noticed that the metal elements F and E may be extended and so formed as to comprise seats for the proximate columns of rubber.

The construction in Figure 8 shows the application of a similar non-metallic connector to an assembly at one end of the frame of a vehicle. In place of the usual channel section, parts are mounted on a bracket 70 WhlCll may be so shaped as to be united with the frame Z at its end. The depending housing m may be shaped' for securing to the bracket k by short bolts m. All of the other elements of the assembly are substantially as heretofore described. One arm m of the housing m may underlie the end of the bracket is while the other arm m may extend up in intimate engagement with the underside of the bracket.

Chan es in details of construction may obviously emade without changing the principle of operation. The principal characteristic of the device is that the load is transmitted directly downward to the supporting spring through a column of rubber under compression while the retaining element does not take the load but confines the parts in desired assembled relation, other rubber columns being employed to afford the desired swiveling action for the retaining member and also to check rebound.

What I claim is:

1. A spring suspension comprising in com bination with the supporting element and the ilP'N llP'l element, a column of non-metallic yielding material interposed between the two elements to transmit the loadidirectlyjrom one In the other, a rigid retaining element passing through the supporting element, the

' column and the supported element adapted .t maintain thenon-metallic material against disphn-ement' with respect to the'two first name-l elements. and other columns of rubber at either ends of the rigid member-to support .the sam with capacity for swiveling move- -ment while resisting yieldmgly separation of the supporting and supported elementsf w A spring suspension comprising in com- ,hinatiou with a supporting spring and a supported frame, opposed seats on the spring and frame, a column of non-metallic yielding material disposed between said seats to transwit. the load directly from the frame to the spring. a rigid retaining member passing uu-nts of the. eolmnnumler side sway.

22. spring suspension cmnprisiug in comhination with a supporting spring and a supp rted. frame, o 'ipostal' seats on the spring trausmit'the load directly from-the'friime to the s 'vrlng, a rigid retaining member passing through the frame, the column and the s ring. and umintainingfthe column in its seats. a second column of non-metallic yieldin material disposed above the upper seat for the lirst named column and supporting the bolt with capacity for swiveling movements, 9. third column of non-inetallic yielding material dis )osed beneath the spring and through w ich the bolt passes, and seats carried on the bolt for the two last. namedcolumns.

4. A spring suspension comprising m combination with a supporting spring and the =supportedQframe, a column of non-metallic yielding material interposed directl between the frame and spring to transmit t e load to i the spring, a second column above the frame and a third column below the spring, a rigid retaining member passing through all of said columns and having capacity for swiveling movements under deformation of the first named column, and 21 depending housing carried with the frame to partiall enclose the first named column and limit its ateral movements.

5. As an article of manufacture a cushion connection of the character described comprising more, than two. separate columns of rubbermoulded with joining websfand disposed coaxially with respect to one another.

(5. .As an article of manufacture a cushion onnection of the character described com-.

prising more than two separate columns of rubber moulded with joining webs disposed in dill'erent planes, the columns beingcoaxial. and frame, a column of non-metallic yieldmg material disposed betweensa dseatsto 7. As an article of manufacture a'cushion connection of the character described coma plurality of compression columns prisin ofrub er moulded with tapered bores therethrough to receive a rigid stud.

This specification signed this 30th day of' April A; D. 1926. V

AXEL' J. 'JANSSON: 

